Mary Patricia “Pat” Donelan of Centerville, Massachusetts, died peacefully on February 12 at the age of 87. Born in 1937 to Ethel Gardner and John Kulasa, Pat was raised in Akron, Ohio. Growing up in the city, Pat loved going to the theatre, attending Cleveland Indians baseball games, and spending time with her three aunts attending fashion show lunches.
Pat spent childhood summers with her grandparents on their farm in southern Ohio, where she fed the animals, gathered eggs, helped with the canning, and learned to make soap and embroider. At North High School in Akron, Pat had many friends, served as Class Secretary and was a member of the Student Council and National Honor Society.
After earning her associate’s degree from the University of Akron, Pat became a secretary, and occasional model, for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Inspired by her love of travel and a desire to see the world, she then worked as an American Airlines’ stewardess out of Boston, where she met her husband, John Edward Donelan of Athol, Massachusetts. They bought and ran a B&B on Main St. in Centerville, Massachusetts, and raised their son, John.
When Pat’s husband died suddenly in 1978, she returned to work as a receptionist at a local bank and worked her way up to mortgage officer for several Cape Cod banks, eventually retiring from Cape Cod Bank & Trust after a long and successful career.
The large Polish gatherings of her childhood taught Pat to value food and family. Pat was an accomplished cook, seamstress, and gardener. She was also active in community events and routinely volunteered for several Cape Cod organizations, including the local elections, Centerville Historical Society & Museum, Our Lady of Victory Church, and Boston Pops by the Sea. An adventurer at heart, Pat travelled throughout the United States and most of Europe, and didn’t need much of an excuse for a trip near or far.
She is survived by her cherished son and daughter-in-law, John and Vicky Donelan, of Hyannis, her sister-in-law Eileen Donelan of Northborough, Maryellen Donelan Lacroix and her husband Frank of Osterville, and numerous nephews, nieces, grand-nephews and grand-nieces, cousins, and friends, all of whom adored her and greatly admired her resilience, sense of humor, and love of family, food, and fun.
Funeral services will be privately held. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to the Centerville Historical Museum or the Centerville-Osterville-Marston Mills Fire Department.